I just don't see the purpose of the story. Any poor kid can teach himself to make a radio out of spare parts. In my opinion, this is the same BS grandstanding that eventually led the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth to have an incompetent radical leader.

Quoting: Fighting Spartan

I disagree. It is a story of how one child with drive, a need, and fortitude is making his world a better place - and himself a more successful person along with it. It's a story of passion and drive, and what might result when someone pursues those passions to the fullest.

In short, it is inspirational; however, there are those within this forum (and country) that will take his successes and twist them to suit their own pathetic racist agenda by somehow equating his intelligence and accomplishment with his race - essentially making a mockery of his wonderful achievements (in such a short time) and thereby killing any benefit the video may have to others wishing the same.

These, of course, are the same people that continually blame others for their own mistakes, while whining about having less than others without taking the risks. Their envy and greed in light of their apathy is criminal, but it unfortunately is our current reality. Obama is simply an extension of that.

I am rambling, but very much enjoyed watching the video. Maybe it will inspire at least a few libitards to convert, but I doubt it.

I just don't see the purpose of the story. Any poor kid can teach himself to make a radio out of spare parts. In my opinion, this is the same BS grandstanding that eventually led the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth to have an incompetent radical leader.

Quoting: Fighting Spartan

Yeah I know right! Any poor kid can do this! That's why only 1 poor kid has ever done this.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 27910543

I did the same crap when I was a kid, so did just about everybody else I know. It is normal for boys to build stuff from junk. The problem is, you have to have the junk first. No Sub-Saharan African culture has ever developed for than a rudimentary technological base or an advanced civilisation. The Egyptians do not count, they were White and they were not Sub-Saharan.

15-Year-Old Kelvin Doe is an engineering whiz living in Sierra Leone who scours the trash bins for spare parts, which he uses to build batteries, generators and transmitters. Completely self-taught, Kelvin has created his own radio station where he broadcasts news and plays music under the moniker, DJ Focus.

Kelvin became the youngest person in history to be invited to the "Visiting Practitioner's Program" at MIT. THNKR had exclusive access to Kelvin and his life-changing journey - experiencing the US for the first time, exploring incredible opportunities, contending with homesickness, and mapping out his future.

Good for you Kelvin! I don't see this as affirmative action, not really. I think that it's great MIT takes the initiative to encourage creative people like this, and I'm sure this may inspire other young talented minds as well. Cool thread! Karma points from this :)

I just don't see the purpose of the story. Any poor kid can teach himself to make a radio out of spare parts. In my opinion, this is the same BS grandstanding that eventually led the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth to have an incompetent radical leader.

Quoting: Fighting Spartan

Oh cut the kid some slack. He figured out how to make batteries, generators and transmitters from garbage. How many people can't even figure out the remote on their tv's here? At least he's spending his time thinking and working and learning a trade and skills that will hopefully give him a decent future.

How about the 12 year old native American kid that lives on a res with his family in a trailer without heat. His little sister is disabled so he went to the garbage dump and made a solar heater for her room with some plywood, some old tin cans and a sheet of plexiglass. Then he won a prize on a TV show and he told the production people about his school not having a science/shop class department and asked if they could help. So the show paid for one for the school.

I'm impressed by kids who shine, no matter where they're from. And if the "grandstanding" impresses more kids to think, instead of letting other people do all their thinking for them, we just might have a future. Not a bad thing.

We don't want them all growing up to worship the Kardashians now do we?

I just don't see the purpose of the story. Any poor kid can teach himself to make a radio out of spare parts. In my opinion, this is the same BS grandstanding that eventually led the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth to have an incompetent radical leader.

Quoting: Fighting Spartan

Any average kid makes a radio nobody cares. A black kid builds a radio and WATCH OUT! He's the next big genius. Affirmative action in progress, that's all this is.

I just don't see the purpose of the story. Any poor kid can teach himself to make a radio out of spare parts. In my opinion, this is the same BS grandstanding that eventually led the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth to have an incompetent radical leader.

Quoting: Fighting Spartan

Any average kid makes a radio nobody cares. A black kid builds a radio and WATCH OUT! He's the next big genius. Affirmative action in progress, that's all this is.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26191271

there are smart black people out there, some alot smarter than me. but at the same time we all know which races are the smarter ones and which one are the more athletic ones. i wish we would stop pretending we are all equal, when its obvious to all we are not.

I just don't see the purpose of the story. Any poor kid can teach himself to make a radio out of spare parts. In my opinion, this is the same BS grandstanding that eventually led the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth to have an incompetent radical leader.

Quoting: Fighting Spartan

Any average kid makes a radio nobody cares. A black kid builds a radio and WATCH OUT! He's the next big genius. Affirmative action in progress, that's all this is.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26191271

there are smart black people out there, some alot smarter than me. but at the same time we all know which races are the smarter ones and which one are the more athletic ones. i wish we would stop pretending we are all equal, when its obvious to all we are not.

Typical bullshit cultural relativity con job. He has no electrical engineering skills, his fm transmitter was a $4.99 solder yourself kit from Ramsey Electronics (www.ramseyelectronics.com)ANYONE could put that together. He is NOT a prodigy, none of his "inventions" were real. Notice how hey went into NO technical detail on ANY of it. What' a joke, and look how easy you idiot Americans are to fool. The white guy from Harvard could tell the kid was the typical African moron but he was too afraid to say anything for fear of the racist label.

15-Year-Old Kelvin Doe is an engineering whiz living in Sierra Leone who scours the trash bins for spare parts, which he uses to build batteries, generators and transmitters. Completely self-taught, Kelvin has created his own radio station where he broadcasts news and plays music under the moniker, DJ Focus.

Kelvin became the youngest person in history to be invited to the "Visiting Practitioner's Program" at MIT. THNKR had exclusive access to Kelvin and his life-changing journey - experiencing the US for the first time, exploring incredible opportunities, contending with homesickness, and mapping out his future.

You can do much with so little.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 20703248

Finally, some GLORY of the human SPIRIT instead of all the DOOM on this site.

Are you simpletons LISTENING? Get over your puffed up righteousness and fake love of diversity. Just so you can pretend to be so progressive. It's actually more insulting to say this kid is special because he's from Africa! 40 % of American boys could do this but because .0001 % of Africa can do it it's a big deal??? How insulting...that kid is of mediocre if not below average intelligence, he assembled a DIY low power FM kit from an online

I just don't see the purpose of the story. Any poor kid can teach himself to make a radio out of spare parts. In my opinion, this is the same BS grandstanding that eventually led the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth to have an incompetent radical leader.

Quoting: Fighting Spartan

There's more to the story then making a radio out of spare parts.

We're bombarded with mountains of shit "news" stories all the time. I'd much rather hear a story like this than some crap about a celebrity or reality TV star.

Are you simpletons LISTENING? Get over your puffed up righteousness and fake love of diversity. Just so you can pretend to be so progressive. It's actually more insulting to say this kid is special because he's from Africa! 40 % of American boys could do this but because .0001 % of Africa can do it it's a big deal??? How insulting...that kid is of mediocre if not below average intelligence, he assembled a DIY low power FM kit from an online

Are you simpletons LISTENING? Get over your puffed up righteousness and fake love of diversity. Just so you can pretend to be so progressive. It's actually more insulting to say this kid is special because he's from Africa! 40 % of American boys could do this but because .0001 % of Africa can do it it's a big deal??? How insulting...that kid is of mediocre if not below average intelligence, he assembled a DIY low power FM kit from an online

Whenever someone from a disparaged background does well in the educational field it lands a blow on the higher education system. They tell people that you NEED to take X years of school in order to become smart.. when in truth, those who seek knowledge will be able to, using any means (like that african kid who built devices using trash, or people who spend their days in the library who end up learning more than the people who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars listening to an old stiff tell them how to write an essay)

Most of our greatest inventors, musicians, writers and artists were all SELF TAUGHT

I hope more youth realize that they hold the key to knowledge in their hands and that they don't need to rely on others to shape their destinies

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 27652209

Totally! The only thing that's necessary is... to love what you do, then you'll get all the right answers, you'll be able to teach yourself, etc.